Zander Fagerson admits he experienced some anxious moments as he waited to see if he would be ruled out of playing in the World Cup opener against South Africa.
After being sent off against France at Murrayfield in August – his second red card in two-and-a-half years – he feared the worst.
As the Scotland prop sits alone with this correspondent, he smiles wryly when asked how concerned he actually was at the prospect of missing one of the biggest games of his rugby career in Marseille tonight.
Did he sleep well? Was he on edge?
His answer is surprising, but also typical of a man who follows his own path in life and is inspired by helping others.
Zander Fagerson admits he had some anxious moments after his red card against France
“Of course I was worried, and it was all a bit of an emotional rollercoaster,” he says. “But look, I had my faith and I knew that no matter what happened to me, people faced much tougher challenges in their everyday lives than worrying about whether or not they were going to play in a rugby tournament.
‘Don’t get me wrong: it is very important for me to play for Scotland in the World Cup. In every game really, and I was worried I might get banned from the game in South Africa, but come on…’
A disciplinary panel initially banned him for three matches, before this was reduced to two – the warm-up games against France at Saint-Etienne and Georgia at Murrayfield – on the condition that he attend a ‘tackle school’ designed to improve his technique. .
Fagerson’s relief at being available for the Springboks game will have been felt several times by head coach Gregor Townsend.
The British and Irish Lion is by far the first choice for his country and with 37-year-old veteran WP Nel as back-up, he will be asked to stay on as long as possible against the reigning world champions.
“I toured South Africa with the Lions a few years ago and I enjoy the physical challenge of taking on them if I am selected to play,” said the Perth-born 27-year-old. “We all know the challenge they bring and I am relieved to be available to play in the game if needed. Since I was suspended for the last two warm-up games, I will be fresh if I am selected. I am remorseful for what happened, but that moment has passed and you learn from your mistakes. For me the only focus is on South Africa.’
The front rower initially received a yellow card, but was upgraded to red by the bunker
Our conversation then takes a different turn than you would expect prior to a World Cup opener.
Fagerson clearly has a broad perspective on things, and building on his earlier comment about others facing greater challenges in life, the father of two talks about his involvement in three specific causes from which he draws courage and inspiration.
His support for Cahonas, Scotland’s testicular cancer education, awareness and support organisation, seems a good place to start.
He got involved after his own health scare. “It had been a few years now since I felt pain in my testicles,” Fagerson recalls. ‘Like most men, I didn’t go straight to the doctor as I should. A lump developed and the pain became worse. When I went I had some tests and the doctor came back to me to say it wasn’t cancer, but a bad bruise caused by a burst blood vessel. I was lucky, but that incident opened my eyes to the need for men to police themselves and I do that regularly and I ask all men to do the same. Since then, through Cahonas, I have met some wonderful people who have had testicular cancer and gone on to have families and live normal lives.”
The plight of a Scotland rugby fan led to him becoming involved with another charity, PORT, which helps people suffering from a debilitating disease. Fagerson had never heard of Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction (CIPO) until he met Scotland and Glasgow Warriors fan Louise MacDonald and her mother Carole.
CIPO is a rare and potentially disabling intestinal disease whose complications can be life-threatening.
Fagerson became an ambassador for the charity alongside English comedian Sean Locke, who died of cancer two years ago at the age of 58.
He tells Mail Sport: ‘PORT (Pseudo Obstruction Research Trust) is a small charity in memory of a beautiful little girl called Emily whose life was cruelly taken due to complications related to this disease.
‘Her mother Sonia and friend Sue founded PORT to create a legacy for her, to fund research to improve the lives of others with the condition and to support people with the disease so that patients and their families can make the journey don’t have to make it alone.
‘I didn’t know anything about that until I met Louise and started talking to Louise at the rugby. She was so happy to be there, supporting Glasgow and Scotland, forgetting her condition and enjoying the day, and that really touched me. I may not be able to find a cure, but if I can raise a little awareness or get a few more patients to a rugby match and give them some relief, no matter how small, I would feel like I was making a difference.”
Fagerson bursts with pride when he mentions the Strathmore Community Rugby Trust, whose work extends from Perth to Stonehaven and in particular Forfar, Brechin and Fagerson’s hometown of Kirriemuir.
It is clear that what they do is close to his heart. “They use rugby to bring the community together and I’m proud to be an ambassador for them alongside my brother Matt,” he said.
There are pictures of the Fagerson brothers meeting Archie, who has autism, and his younger sister Annabelle at the Trust’s special autism-friendly rugby session.
Fagerson will start for Greogr Townsend’s side in their World Cup opener on Sunday evening
‘Their mother has told the trust that Archie loves the hour-long autism rugby session and when Annabelle runs onto the field to play too, it’s like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders as she worries about her brother. That rugby is a liberation for both of them and the field is a safe place,” he says. “There’s other incredible work they do in so many aspects of the community. They have a walking rugby tournament among other things and as a local boy growing up in the area it is humbling to see the great work the Trust does.”
Family and community mean a lot to Fagerson, who is thrilled to be part of Townsend’s World Cup squad alongside brother Matt.
“To be selected alongside Matt is fantastic and something we are proud of. It’s the stuff dreams are made of,” says Zander, who is married to Yasmine and has daughter Iona and son Hamish. ‘We want to make memories together throughout France.
“Matt was sad about missing out four years ago, but he worked hard to make it this time. It means so much to us and this is a big thank you from both of us to our parents (Jonathan and Gwendolyn) who were like our unpaid taxi drivers as we came through the ranks, taking us here, there and everywhere. We represent our country, our family, our friends and want to put a smile on the faces of Scottish rugby fans during the tournament.”
For more information about the above-mentioned charities, please contact https://www.strathmoretrust.co.uk; https://www.cahonasscotland.org; And https://www.port-charity.org.uk